It was another historic night for the Curry family in the NBA, but on Thursday, March 19, it was Dell Curry’s time to shine.
The father of Golden State Warriors superstar Stephen Curry had his No. 30 retired by the Charlotte Hornets in an emotional ceremony that brought him to tears.
“I can’t thank them enough for this. I’m just a country boy from Grottoes, man,” Dell, 61, told the Spectrum Center crowd. “I had no idea that this was even happening. I’m just playing basketball because I love it and now to have my jersey in [these] rafters besides Bobby [Phills], I cannot explain how grateful, blessed, fortunate I am to be here in this moment.”
He added, “I want to thank all of you fans. You wrapped your arms around me when I was a 24-year-old kid. And you’ve supported me and my family ever since.”
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Dell played 10 seasons for the Hornets from 1989 to 1998, earning Sixth Man of the Year honors in 1994. He has worked as part of the Hornets’ broadcast team since 2009.
“Last night at a quiet, intimate family dinner is when it really hit me,” Dell reflected before the ceremony, according to the Associated Press. “I got a little emotional thinking about it. … This is a big deal. I understand how big of a deal this is.”
Dell and his ex-wife, Sonya Adams, share three kids, including the NBA duo of Stephen and Seth. Before the game, Stephen took to Instagram to congratulate his dad.
“A special night for the Curry family,” he wrote via Instagram on Thursday. “The originator is in the rafters forever. Congratulations, Dad.”
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Steph reflected further on his dad’s legacy in a story with the Charlotte Observer, published Thursday.
“We call him ‘The Originator,’” he said. “Because all of this — all of us and our basketball family tree? It originated with him. One of our friends gave him that nickname on a golf trip about a decade ago. And so now we run with it.”
Steph also said that he expected Dell to cry during the ceremony.
“He’s not a crier,” he said. “But if there’s ever a moment, this is it. If there’s a prop bet on it, I’ll be taking the ‘Yes.’ This is his life, you know, both on and off the court, in one night. So I’m betting on it.”
Seth agreed, saying, “It will be emotional for sure, with most of his family in the house and some old teammates in the house.”
